Ball Return Device

ABSTRACT

A ball return device provides a target for throwing baseballs at that returns the baseballs to the player. The device includes a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending forwardly from the rear wall. A front edge of the perimeter wall defines an input opening into an interior of the housing. The interior of the housing defines a target for throwing a ball. The housing has an aperture positioned therein. A chute has a top end and a bottom end. The top and bottom ends are each open. The top end is coupled to the housing and aligned with the aperture wherein the chute is configured for receiving the ball through the top end whereby the ball is dispensed outwardly through the bottom end.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to sports training devices and more particularly pertains to a new sports training device for providing a target for throwing baseballs at that returns the baseballs to the player.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending from the rear wall. A front edge of the perimeter wall defines an input opening into an interior of the housing. The interior of the housing defines a target for throwing a ball. The housing has an aperture positioned therein. A chute has a top end and a bottom end. The top and bottom ends are each open. The top end is coupled to the housing and aligned with the aperture wherein the chute is configured for receiving the ball through the top end whereby the ball is dispensed outwardly through the bottom end

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a ball return device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new sports training device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the ball return device 10 generally comprises a housing 12 having a rear wall 14 and a perimeter wall 16 coupled to and extending forwardly from the rear wall 14. A front edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16 defines an input opening 19 into an interior 20 of the housing 12. The interior 20 of the housing 12 defines a target for throwing a ball 22 into. The housing 12 has an aperture 24 positioned therein. The aperture 24 may extend through a bottom side 26 of the perimeter wall 16. The aperture 24 may be spaced below the input opening 19 to direct the ball 22 into the aperture 24. The perimeter wall 16 may taper inwardly approaching the rear wall 14. A rear portion 28 of the perimeter wall 16 may project rearwardly away from the aperture 24. The housing 12 may include an outwardly projecting lip 30 extending around the front edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16.

A chute 32 is provided having a top end 34 and a bottom end 36. The top 34 and bottom 36 ends are each open. The top end 34 is coupled to the housing 12 and aligned with the aperture 24 wherein the chute 32 is configured for receiving the ball 22 through the top end 34 whereby the ball 22 is dispensed outwardly through the bottom end 36. The bottom end 36 of the chute 32 may be vertically aligned with the input opening 19 in the perimeter wall 16. The chute 32 may be telescopic in a generally conventional manner. For instance, the chute 32 may include an inner sleeve 38 positionable within an outer sleeve 40 and a locking member for securing the inner 38 and outer 40 sleeves in a static position relative to each other. The chute 32 includes an arcuate bend 42 at a bottom 44 of the chute 32 whereby the bottom end 36 of the chute 32 is directed forwardly away from the chute 32 to ensure that the ball 22 will roll back toward a player when the player is standing in front of the input opening 19. The chute 32 includes an elongated section 46 oriented vertically relative to a ground surface. The elongated section 46 has a lower end 48. The elongated section 46 may have a notch 50 extending therein wherein the notch 50 extends upwardly from the lower end 48. The notch 50 may be arcuate. The lower end 46 may further include a flange 70 extending circumferentially around the lower end 46.

A base 52 is attached to the lower end 48 and supports the elongated section 46 upon the ground surface. The base 52 has a top peripheral edge 54 and a bottom peripheral edge 56. The base 52 may taper outwardly from the top peripheral edge 54 to the bottom peripheral edge 56. The base 52 further includes a front end 58, a back end 60 and a perimeter surface 62 coupled to and extending between the front end 58 and the back end 60. The perimeter surface 62 may include an apex 64 positioned within the elongated section 46 of the chute 32. An upper surface 66 of the base 52 extending from the apex 64 to the front end 58 of the base 52 may define the bottom 44 of the chute 32. The front end 58 of the base 52 has an output opening 68 extending therein wherein the output opening 68 is configured to dispense the ball 22 outwardly from the chute 32. The arcuate notch 50 in the elongated section 46 is alignable with the output opening 68. The base 52 may have a groove 72 positioned therein extending circumferentially around the top peripheral edge 54. The groove 72 receives the flange 70 to secure the elongated section 46 to the base 52.

The device 10 may be constructed from a rigid material, such as plastic, metal or the like. The device 10 may have a height extending from the bottom peripheral edge 56 of the base 52 to a top section 21 of the front edge 18 between approximately 75.0 cm and 105.0 cm. The front edge 18 may have a diameter between approximately 25.0 cm and 35.0 cm.

In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, the height of the device 10 is adjusted so that the housing 12 is positionable at a desired height above the ground surface. A player stands in front of the input opening 19 and throws the ball 22 into the interior 20 of the housing 12 such that the ball 22 falls through the aperture 24 and into the chute 32. The ball 22 exits the chute 32 through the bottom end 36 such that it rolls back to the player. This allows the player to practice pitching while having the ball 22 automatically returned to the player.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A ball return device comprising: a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending forwardly from said rear wall, a front edge of said perimeter wall defining an input opening into an interior of said housing, said interior of said housing defining a target for throwing a ball, said housing having an aperture positioned therein; and a chute having a top end and a bottom end, said top and bottom ends each being open, said top end being coupled to said housing and aligned with said aperture wherein said chute is configured for receiving the ball through said top end whereby the ball is dispensed outwardly through said bottom end.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising said aperture extending through a bottom side of said perimeter wall.
 3. The device of claim 1, further comprising wherein said housing includes an outwardly projecting lip extending around said front edge of said perimeter wall.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising wherein said perimeter wall tapers inwardly approaching said rear wall of said housing.
 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising wherein said chute includes an arcuate bend at a bottom of said chute whereby said bottom end of said chute is directed forwardly away from said chute.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising said bottom end of said chute being vertically aligned with said input opening in said perimeter wall.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising wherein said chute is telescopic.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising wherein said chute includes an elongated section oriented vertically relative to a ground surface.
 9. The device of claim 8, further comprising said elongated section having a lower end, a base being attached to said lower end and supporting said elongated section upon the ground surface.
 10. The device of claim 9, further comprising said base having a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge, said base tapering outwardly from said top peripheral edge to said bottom peripheral edge.
 11. The device of claim 9, further comprising wherein said base has a front end, a back end and a perimeter surface coupled to and extending between said front end and said back end, said perimeter surface including an apex positioned within said elongated section of said chute, an upper surface of said base extending from said apex to said front end of said base defining said bottom of said chute, said front end of said base having an output opening extending therein wherein said output opening is configured to dispense the ball outwardly from said chute.
 12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a rear portion of said perimeter wall projecting rearwardly away from said aperture.
 13. The device of claim 11, further comprising said elongated section having a notch extending therein, said notch extending upwardly from said lower end of said elongated section and being alignable with said output opening.
 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising wherein said aperture is spaced below said input opening.
 15. A ball return device comprising: a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending forwardly from said rear wall, a front edge of said perimeter wall defining an input opening into an interior of said housing, said interior of said housing defining a target for throwing a ball, said housing having an aperture positioned therein, said aperture extending through a bottom side of said perimeter wall, said aperture being spaced below said input opening, said perimeter wall tapering inwardly approaching said rear wall of said housing, a rear portion of said perimeter wall projecting rearwardly away from said aperture, said housing including an outwardly projecting lip extending around said front edge of said perimeter wall; a chute having a top end and a bottom end, each of said top and bottom ends being open, said top end being coupled to said housing and aligned with said aperture wherein said chute is configured for receiving the ball through said top end whereby the ball is dispensed outwardly through said bottom end, said chute being hollow and having each of said top end and said bottom end being open, said bottom end of said chute being vertically aligned with said input opening in said perimeter wall, said chute being telescopic, said chute including an arcuate bend at a bottom of said chute whereby said bottom end of said chute is directed forwardly away from said chute, said chute including an elongated section oriented vertically relative to a ground surface, said elongated section having a lower end; a base being attached to said lower end and supporting said elongated section upon the ground surface, said base having a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge, said base tapering outwardly from said top peripheral edge to said bottom peripheral edge, said base having a front end, a back end and a perimeter surface coupled to and extending between said front end and said back end, said perimeter surface including an apex positioned within said elongated section of said chute, an upper surface of said base extending from said apex to said front end of said base defining said bottom of said chute, said front end of said base having an output opening extending therein wherein said output opening is configured to dispense the ball outwardly from said chute; and said elongated section having a notch extending therein, said notch extending upwardly from said lower end of said elongated section and being alignable with said output opening, said notch being arcuate. 